DEVELOPING METHODS TO DIFFERENTIATE SPECIES AND ESTIMATE COVERAGE OF BENTHIC AUTOTROPHS IN THE POTOMAC USING DIGITAL IMAGING
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Date
2018-05
Department
Environmental Biology
Program
Biology
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Abstract
This study developed methods for the quantification of benthic autotroph
coverage in the Upper Potomac using digital imagery captured with drone-mounted
cameras. Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) is an integral part of freshwater
ecosystems and the presence or absence and abundance of SAV can be used as a
barometer for ecosystem health. Cyanobacteria blooms occur regularly in the Upper
Potomac during summer months and may be releasing cyanotoxins into the water. Drone
imagery offers an easy and inexpensive way of generating coverage estimate of SAV and
cyanobacteria which can then be used to assess ecological conditions. This study was
able to differentiate substrate and benthic autotrophs with imagery captured at low
altitude with 3 and 5-band cameras. This study also offers suggestions for differentiating
between SAV and cyanobacteria if equipment with finer spectral resolution is available.